Wheel-cultivator



F. A. WOOLF.

WHEEL CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.1B,19I7.

1 50,906, Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

i To all whom it may concern.-

FRANK A. WOOLF, OF WICHITA, KANSAS.

WHEEL-CULTIVAT OR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 19.20.

Application filed September 18, 1917. Serial No. 191,932.

Be it known that I, FRANK A. WOOLF, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVheel-Cultivators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the annexed drawing, which forms a part hereof.

This invention comprises a wheel cultivator. It is contemplated as one of its objects to provide a light weight, device of this character which may be easily actuated and guided by the operator without any other tractive means.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, provision is made for applying force to the cultivator in addition to the usual hand impulsion, and this force is, by

the novel arrangement, transformed from a push, which was the usual way, into a pull or tractive force.

The carrying means are situated between the operator, and the point where the tractive force is applied, and this arrangement makes for a ready guidance and easy operation.

Other objects and advantages will in part be clear, and in part be brought out in the description which follows.

A drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention is hereto annexed, the follow-.

in views being shown Figure 1 is a. view in perspective;

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary detail View partly in section and Fig. 3, is a viewin transverse section through the point of'connection of the traction member with the frame.

The cultivator herein illustrated consists of a frame formed from spaced apart frame members 1 and 2, between which there is journaled in suitable bearings 3, a carrying wheel 1. These frame members may be formed of strap iron, and bent or joined at their extremities, which makes a simple and strong box-like inclosure for the carrying wheel.

At their forward ends, the frame members carry extensions 5 and 6, which are curved upwardly, and spaced vapart at their free ends. To these free ends there are secured suitably push bars 7 having handles, by means of and from which the impelling force is generally applied.

A yoke member 9 has a portion secured to the push bars 7, maintaining them in spaced relation, and the'free ends of this yoke are secured to the frame members 1 and 2. Upon the rear portion of the frame members there is provided a plow carrying extension 10, which may be formed by extending one of the members which form the frame, and upon this there is mounted a cultivating tool 11. This arrangement makes for simplicity of construction, and forms a light weight strong implement capable of easy manipulation and steering.

A push rod 12 is here disclosed as an auxiliary means in conjunction with the bars 7 and handles 8, for transmitting an impulsive force to the cultivator. This rod is secured at its forward end, preferably pivotally, as by means of a bolt 13, between the extended portions 5 and 6 of the frame members. At its opposite end, the rod is provided with a breast plate 14, which may also carry a shoulder strap 15. A simple means for connecting the breast plate with the rod, is disclosed in detail in Fig. 2.

Means are also provided for adjusting the height of the free end of the rod 12 and breast plate, and at the same time correspondingly changing the location at which the tractive force applied through the rod will take effect in the cultivator. To this end, a series of oppositely disposed openings 16 are arranged in the extended portions of the frame, whereby the pivot bolt 13 may be shifted. A fixed point or fu1- crum 17 which may be one of the cross bolts securing the push bars 7 to the extensions 5 and 6, acts in conjunction with the shifting of the bolt 13, to raise or lower the end of the push rod carrying the breast plate, while the shifting of the bolt 13 changes the location of the point where force is applied to the cultivator.

By this arrangement, an impulsive force applied to the breast plate, is transformed into a tractive force applied in advance of the carrying wheel, and this feature has been found in practice to greatly facilitate the use of the tool, in thatit takes less use of the arms and permits more force to be applied with less physical effort. The particular location of the point where this force is applied permits easy steering without diminution of the force applied.

The features herein enumerated and illus trated in the embodiment of the invention herein described are broadly new as far as I end of the frame, extended upwardly there am aware, and while I have selected the present embodimentfor facility of illustration, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the particular structure of this embodiment, as many changes in the general construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is A Wheel cultivator comprising spacedapart members connected at their opposite extremities to constitute aframe; a wheel mounted within the frame between the ends thereof; members disposed at the forward from, then diverging and carried backwardly in the direction of the wheel; handles secured to the free ends of these mem- FRANK A. WVOOLF.

lVitnesses:

G. T. TUDERS, SILA's S. BROWN. 

